Toy.



G. W. BONTE.

TOY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-l6, 1916- 1,207,129. Patented Dec. 1916.

"INVENTOR WITNESSES: 0 K207? f4; L By Attorneys, jjfiww 09 7? 27% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. BONTE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TOY.

Application filed September 16, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BONTE, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding in the borough of Manhattan, city,

county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to toys and particularly to the production of a figure which may be used as a building block or as a soldier, or a tumbling block, and for various other uses, and which has flat surfaces adapted to receive ornamentation which, together with the configuration of the block, present somewhat the semblance of a human figure. The said flat surfaces further enable the toy to be stacked or built up in various shapes. The toy or block according to my invention is further adapted to receive letters of the alphabet, or other instructive matter, whereby the said toy is adapted not only to have value as an amusing toy for children, but likewise to have an educational value.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a desirable form in which my invention may be embodied.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 represents one side of a block containing my invention; Fig. 2 represents the opposite side of the said block; Fig. 3 represents one of the sides, and Figs. 4, 5 and 6 represent slightly modified forms.

My invention-will usually be employed in connection with a set of blocks of the same shape, or similar shape, for receiving the various letters of the alphabet, or numerals, or other educational matter. I have, however, in the accompanying drawings illustrated but one of said blocks, as the invention may be well understood from the same. Preferably the block will be ornamented with double-faced figures, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and each of the said front and back sides will preferably bear ornamentation or delineation of the human body. For the purpose of adding to the interest, I have shown these as being grotesque figures, but other styles can be adopted. The respective sides of the block are illustrated as containing figures of arms, and the top as containing the hair and ears.

According to my invention, the block A is made somewhat in the outline or configuration of the human figure, having a body por- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Serial No. 120,456.

tion B, separated legs C, and a head portion D. The front and back portions have flat surfaces, and upon these surfaces the letters of the alphabet and delineations of the human figure may be inscribed. The side portions are likewise flattened throughout a considerable portion of their length, as in-- dicated at Z), and these flat portions are well adapted to receive lines indicating the arms, etc., for the body. The head portion D is preferably rounded on the top, but, as indicated in Fig. 3, a broad edge is provided which is flattened from front to back and rounded from side to side.

The block or figure above presented is so shaped as to be adapted for many purposes. The legs have flattened bases whereby the blocks may be stood up as a file of soldiers and may be used as tumbling toys, one figure being stood in advance of another so that upsetting one will upset the entire row. The front and back of the figure being flat not only provides space for the ornamentation and letters shown, but likewise enables the block to be stacked or built up as an ordinary building block. The flattened side edges Z) also enable the blocks to be stacked or built up on their sides, and the flattened edge (Z of the head portion provides a surface upon which the block may be stood as for balancing.

The blocks may be used as toy soldiers to form an army, and the ease with which they may be stood up and furthermore their resemblance to the human figure, give great interest to the child. They may, furthermore, be used as building blocks for building houses or forts, for which purpose the blocks may he stood on any of their four edges, or on the front or back sides. The blocks may further be used, as already stated, as tumbling toys. The letters of the alphabet will be available for various spelling combinations, in which use the ornamentation will give an added interest, and may also be employed in various kinds of alphabetical games. Preferably twenty-six (26) blocks will be employed in an alphabetical game, having, therefore, a double alphabet.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show modified forms,

which are indicative of the ease with which:

of my invention will be luininated with variousbright colored paint's for the purpose. of adding to are int'ei est'tothejs'ame, butt-he use of suchp'aints forms'noessenvtialjpart of the ini' ention. The fdelinea'tion illustrated may be appliedby being painted directly on the block, somewhat expensive, other modes of applying the ornamentation may be used suclnfor instance, as printi'ng ,directly' on'the block or printing on paper which is pasted on the block. The ornamentation shown,'of course, may be varied within any ClGSlI'ZIblGllIIlltS andlit is not" neeessarily confined to the illustration of the human figure, although this has many advantages.

WVhat I claimis: 1. A'toy comprising a block formed with a portion resembling a body and separated supports resembling legs, said. legs having fiat bases, the front and back of the body being flat and providing spacesfor display As this; however, is r of letters and figures, and the sides being fl or a substantial portion of the length, providing spa'ce'sfor display of figures, said .block presenting a semblance to a human figure, and adapted to be stacked.

2., Atoy comprising a blockformed with a thrush resembling a body and "separated supports resembling legs, and the body having a top part resembling a head, having its edge flattened and rounded from side to' side, the front {and back of the body being fiat and providing, spaces for display of letters and'figures, and the sides being flat for a siibstantial portion 'ofthe length,-pro- .vidin'gsp'aces for display of *figuressaid blockpresehting a semblance to a human figure, and adapted to be stacked, A toy comprising a block having a head portion, a bodywportion and leg=por- \tions said portions formed integral, said .blfock having flat frontand back sides and flattened edges whereby said sides and edges are adapted to receive letters and figures and the'block'm'ay be built or stood up, or stacked or'laid on its side edges, or front"or"b-ack. ,7 p

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed inylname in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W: rem.

Witnesses:

, F AN1rB. QRUDnN,

WILLIAM B. CozzEN.

A I u w, u Copies of this patent 'may'be obtained for fiye eents eaeh, .by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. 0. 

